To empower and engage youth in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo both actively and inclusively to make a significant difference in their community.
MACOY
The Mayor's Advisory Council on Youth (MACOY) was founded in 1993 to serve as an advisory body responsible for advising Council on services, programs and issues as they relate to youth in the region.
Made up of 26 students from across the region, MACOY members work closely with community leaders, participate in meaningful volunteer work and support community events throughout the year.
MACOY currently consists of four specialized committees with their respective leaders, in addition to a Chair and Vice Chair. These committees function not only to bring each MACOY engagement and initiative to life but also to preserve a record of MACOY’s legacy, impact, and influence.
The purpose of MACOY is to empower youth to become actively engaged citizens who have a voice in municipal government decisions that affect them both in their day-to-day lives and the future of the region.
- Identifying the current, new and changing needs of youth throughout the Region as they relate to Municipal Government, local issues and Council’s Strategic Plan.
- To provide a forum for stakeholder input on strategies and service delivery issues affecting youth in the region.
- To provide advice to Mayor and Council on municipal plans, programs, policies, and other local issues that affect the youth in both their day-to-day lives and their future in the region.
Membership is open to all youth in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo residing in the region. MACOY alumni are welcome to participate in a mentorship capacity.
Monthly meetings typically take place on Friday afternoons from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Jubilee Centre (unless otherwise specified). See below:
- Sept. 12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - MACOY Orientation
- Sept. 26
- Oct. 31
- Nov. 21
- Dec. 5
- Dec. 19 - Holiday party
- Jan. 16
- Jan. 30
- Feb. 13
- March 13
- March 27
- April 24
- May 15
- May 29
- June 5 - Year-end celebration
The Chair and Vice Chair are responsible for creating and emailing agendas to MACOY, chairing meetings, ensuring subcommittees are up to date with tasks, and sending out minutes. They are also the primary point of contact for events MACOY is invited to and often speak on behalf of the group.
The Rural Engagement Committee plans up to six rural community visits MACOY will attend throughout the year, with support from IRR (Indigenous and Rural Relations).
The Volunteer Event & Outreach Committee plans MACOY’s volunteer events and celebrations, coordinates two guest speakers each year, and leads group discussions.
The High School Liaison Committee includes one youth from each high school and works to increase youth engagement and expand youth voice across the region, making MACOY more accessible.
The Promotions Committee documents all MACOY events and projects, works with Communications to share them, and maintains a year-long story on the MACOY webpage
MACOY Projects this Year
Orientation Day
Members of MACOY learned about the flow of the program. The program is designed to mimic the structure of a municipal council meeting, with agendas, approvals, land acknowledgement, ice breakers, and committee work. Prior to the establishment of this routine, MACOY members did ice breakers, mainly spending time breaking down and learning about their role in municipal-level decision making as an advisory group of youth.
What are we most excited for?
We are excited to uplift the youth in our community by having a more open role as voices of the community through volunteer engagements, our presence in council meetings, and voicing the concerns of the student population as students. In addition, we aspire to expand rural engagement, uplifting the youth in rural communities, building more connections, and truly making a difference in ALL areas of RMWB. We want to bring a fresh set of eyes to MACOY and expand advertising avenues to bring new people into a place where the voice of the youth can reignite change.
What did we learn?
The MACOY members have gained immeasurable knowledge of political frameworks and processes. Through extensive discussion and analysis of new business introduced by council members and the Mayor in council agendas, we continue to expand our understanding of the way our government operates, and where we can channel our voices and visions. Furthermore, we have developed strong interpersonal communication skills and learned the importance of nuanced perspective delivery.
Santa's Village
What did we do?
The MACOY members worked together to help run the event by taking on a variety of roles. Some members assisted with registration and ticket check-in, while others managed activity stations and supported participants throughout the event. This teamwork ensured that everything ran efficiently and created a welcoming environment for attendees.
How did we positively impact the community through this engagement?
Our involvement had a positive impact on the community by providing younger children with the opportunity to see youth actively volunteering and giving back. This helped inspire a sense of community involvement at an early age. Additionally, our support ensured the event ran smoothly, allowing families to fully enjoy the experience in a well-organized and engaging setting.
Mock Council Meetings
As MACOY members, we get to experience council meetings and see important issues being discussed regarding the Municipality. This creates a great learning environment where we can better understand decisions and how local government operates. It also allows us to see different perspectives, hear community concerns, and recognize the responsibility council members have in representing the public. Overall, this experience helps us become more informed, engaged, and aware of how we can contribute to our community.
What did we learn?
The Mock Council meeting provided a comprehensive look into the complexities of municipal governance and the role of being both a Councilperson and Delegate. MACOY members learnt how to effectively present an argument from the delegate stand using evidence and persuasive speaking, while gaining firsthand insight into how delegates must tailor their messages to address the specific concerns of council members. By Navigating scenarios ranging from school dress code bylaws to the economic impacts of urban construction on local businesses such as when Ilyas Jomha and Hannah Carmona acted as Jonothan and Debra Reynolds, owners of Reynolds Street Kitchen, where we remained cautiously supportive on the decision to ensure we were consulted during the planning phase we developed a deeper understanding of the procedure and the necessity of civil debate.
What was most exciting about this meeting?
What made the mock council meeting especially exciting was how closely it reflected the real processes of municipal governance in Wood Buffalo, where public engagement and transparency are central principles. Under Alberta’s Municipal Government Act, council meetings are generally held in public so that residents can observe proceedings and present their views to elected officials, and citizens may formally request to speak on agenda ideas or make presentations to council.
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